Method of drying macaroni and similar material.



E. HUNZIKER. METHOD OF DRYING MAUARONI AND SIMILAR MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

lwToR W ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

ITE

ERNST HUNZIKER, 0F ZURICH, SWITZERLAND.

METHOD OF DRYING MACARONI AND SIMILAR MATERIAL.

1,ooc.,53s.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 191 f.

Application filed May 7, 1913. Serial No. 766,114.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNST HUNzLKnn, a citizen of Switzerland, and a resident of Zurich, Switzerland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Dry ing Macaroni and Similar Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of drying tubes, sticks or rods of relatively soft and pliable material, such as macaroni, and it has for its object to provide a method of drying such material that shall minimize the length of time devoted to the drying op eration, eliminate wast-e, and insure a product of uniform excellence.

It has heretofore been the usual practice to dry macaroni and similar material by placing it in superposed horizontal layers on shelves in drying rooms or ovens and forcing air through the same from end to end. On account of the softness and pliability of the sticks or tubes and the weight of the upper layers, the lower layers became flattened and the consequent restriction or prevention of the passage of air through and between the sticks or tubes seriously impaired the drying function. Not only was the material inefliciently and nonuniformly dried because of the flattening of the lower layers, but much of it was rendered defective and many of the pieces became stuck together in such manner and degree that much scrap resulted when separation was attempted after the drying operation was completed.

By the use of my method, I am enabled to secure a product that is uniform throughout and is free from scrap. My method is also economical because the air has free access to all of the material and, as the drying operation progresses, the shrinkage of the sticks or tubes enlarges the spaces between them and thus permits a larger quantity of air to perform its moisture-removing function. It follows, therefore, that my invention elfects economy of both time and material and insures a uniform product of excellent quality.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view, partially in end elevation and partially in section, of a drying apparatus that is adapted for use inpractising my invention, and Fig. 2 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, two of the trays or drawers being shown as filled with macaroni.

As here shown, a casing 1, which may be of any desired shape and dimensions, is provided with one or more sets of trays or drawers 2 each of which has an open top and a reticulated bottom 8. I have here shown two sets of trays separated by a partition 4: but either a single set or more than two sets may be employed, as desired. Each set of trays is disposed in a vertical row, and the individual trays may he supported upon strips 5 or otherwise and may be provided with handles (3 in order that they may be readily inserted and as readily removed. A space 7 is provided at the bottom of the tasing into which opens a port 8 at one side. A space 9 is provided at the top of the casing into which opens a port 10 at one side.

Each tray may be provided with a plurality of adjustable and removable partitions 11 for separating and laterally supporting the bunches or sections of material, the number of partitions depending upon the degree of lateral support needed or desired in order to prevent deformation of the pliable sticks or tubes.

The air for extracting the moisture from the material, which is introduced at either of the ports 8 and 10 and withdrawn at the other, may be at any selected temperature and pressure, according to the results desired by the user of the apparatus.

In order to cut off the flow of air through each or any set of drawers 2 and the contents thereof, and to regulate and apportion the flow to any desired degree, I provide the casing 1 with a slide or damper 12 for each set of drawers. Each slide or damper is provided with a handle 13 by means of which it may be readily adjusted. As here shown, the dampers are located above the respective sets of drawers, but they may be located elsewhere if desired.

In using the hereinbefore described apparatus, each drawer is filled with macaroni disposed with its lower ends upon the screen bottom and divided by partitions 11 into bunches or sections, and the drawers are then inserted into the casing upon their supports. It is within the scope of my invention to dispose the sticks or tubes in vertical positions, as indicated at 14, or in inclined positions, as indicated at 15 in Fig. 2. After the drawers with their loads ofmacaroni are in position in the casing, air currents are passed through the apparatus from either the bottom to the top or from the top to the bottom until the macaroni is dried to the desired degree.

If it is found that the air currents are not uniformly apportioned among the several sets of drawers, or that the drying operation is not uniform in all of the sets, because of differences in the materials undergoing treatment, or if different drying effects are desired in different sets, the slides or dampers 12 may be adjusted accordingly.

Variations in the method and apparatus may be made Within the scope of the appended claims, and utilization of the method and the apparatus for drying materials other than those specifically mentioned is also Within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of drying masses of elongated pliable articles Which consists in disposing said masses upon a reticulated sur face in laterally supported bunches, with the longitudinal axes of the articles more nearly vertical than horizontal, and sub ect1ng said masses to an currents.

2. The method of drying pliable food tubes Which consists in disposing said tubes upon a reticulated surface at an obtuse angle to the horizontal and subjecting said tubes to currents of air.

3. The method of drying macaroni tubes and the like Which consists in disposing them in laterally supported bunches upon a reticulated surface in endWise relation thereto and subjecting the bunches to cur rents of air.

4. The method of drying macaroni tubes and the like which consists in disposing them in laterally supported sections upon a substantially horizontal reticulated surface in endwise relation thereto and passing air through said tubes from end to end.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23d day of April, 1913.

ERNST HUNZIKER.

itnesses CARL GUBLER, AnoLr DUGRAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

